Missile that downed airliner came from Russian unit
DETAILED analysis of video and photos has established that the missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine came from a Russia-based military unit, Dutch investigators said.
It is the clearest link yet published by the team to the involvement of the Russian military in the strike that killed all 298 passengers and crew.
Prosecutors said they have presented their findings to Moscow and are seeking answers, but so far have not received a response. The international team running the criminal investigation appealed for help from witnesses who can testify about the involvement of the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the city of Kursk.
Russia has always denied involvement.
Dutch prosecutor Fred
Westerbeke said the Joint Investigation Team is not yet ready to name suspects, but added: “I can say that we are now entering the last phase of the investigation. When we will be ready, it is not possible to say at the moment because there is still a lot of work to do.”
The Boeing 777 passenger jet was heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was blown out of the sky over eastern Ukraine on July 17 2014.
Prosecutors said in 2016 that the plane was shot down by a Buk missile fired from territory controlled by Russia-backed rebels, using a mobile launcher driven in from Russia and hastily returned there.
Yesterday’s presentation went a step further by identifying the exact unit allegedly involved and more details of the rocket involved.
Investigators now say that their careful analysis of video and photos from social media and analysis of parts of the rocket found at the crash scene traced its journey into Ukraine and had given them a “fingerprint” identifying the rocket and where it came from.
“All findings from this forensic investigation confirm the earlier conclusion of the team that flight MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 series missile,” said Jennifer Hurst, of the Australian Federal Police.
Ultimately, any suspects identified and charged will be prosecuted in Dutch courts – if they can be arrested and brought to trial.
Of the 298 people killed, 196 were Dutch, 42 Malaysian and 27 were Australians.